2012 Shimai Taikai

Shimai Taikai (or for those of you who speak English, Sisters' Conference)  A delight for every female in any mission.  It was a feast!

From left:  Sisters Rogers, Yamada, Eguchi, Shimoji, and Ishihara

We feasted on the spirit, on words of inspiration and wisdom from President and Sister Baird.

Sister Baird shared Romans 10:15--And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach to gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  She reminded the sisters of how their feet walk miles, ride miles, stand to bear their testimony, rush to serve, and more.  Truly, these sister do have beautiful feet.

She talked about the spirit, and how blessed we are to feel it in our lives.  She shared a story that Sister Holland told.  She was living in a big city and was called to work as a stake missionary.  It was scary for her.  One day she finished reading the Book of Mormon while she was riding on a bus.  She felt such love for it and felt the influence of the spirit as she completed the book.  There was a man sitting next to her, and she just looked at him and said, "This book is so true."  He asked what it was, and as she told him about it, he wanted to read it.  He ended up joining the Church.

Elder Ellsworth and Elder Ito taught us that when we prepare to teach people, our goal is to help them feel the spirit.  And for practice, we thought about the good traits of our companions and asked what we could do to help our companion feel the spirit.  True conversion comes through the spirit.  Through the spirit, we can know the things our investigators (and companions) need.

Sister Baird gave one of the sisters a timer and asked her to set it for 7 minutes.   She could then share one thing that had changed her life for good on her mission, or a favorite teaching moment, or one of the greatest tests she had on her mission and how she overcame it.  We then enjoyed 7 minutes for each sister there to share her heart and testimony.  It was wonderful.

Then Sister Baird shared her testimony of how the mission has changed her life and what a blessing it has been to her.  She has had many experiences that have confirmed to her the love of the Lord.

President Baird then taught us, about faith in Christ, about what John meant when he said "I have need to be baptized of thee," about covenants and the Atonement.  He taught us the doctrine of Christ.  And he left us with his testimony:  "I love this Jesus.  For his complete obedience, example, sacrifice, patience, because he first loved me and loves me continually.  ....Our purpose for being here is to bring others to Him (Alma 18:8)."  And we felt the truth in his words.



We feasted on each others love, joy and friendship, and sharing our hearts,

Sisters Adachi, Hunt, and West

Sisters Fujisawa, Stott, Takatsu, Eguchi, Thayne, and West

Sister Urano and Sister Barney

We feasted on being creative and visiting while we created.  Tables set up in the dining room were loaded with everything one could possibly want to decorate cards, scrapbooks, bookmarks, and photo albums.  We all brought our photos and went to work.  But that was just filler between the great conversation and love that was shared among the sisters.


And we feasted on delicious food.

Around table from left:  Sister Fujisawa, Ishihara, Shimoji, and coming
back on right, Sisters Adachi, Thayne, and Eguchi

Again from left:  Sisters Matsuhashi, Rogers, Thayne, Stott,
Takatsu, Baird, Silva, West, Hunt, and Yamada

Sisters Silva, Hunt, West, Yamada, Urano, Barney,
Matsuhashi, Rogers, Thayne, and Stott

It was wonderful and, as you can see, a bit of fun, too.

Seated in front from left:  Sisters Hunt, Adachi, and Thayne
Seated on sofa:  Sisters Eguchi, Thayne (maybe), Yamada, Rogers (we are pretty sure that's her), Takatsu, and Hunt
Standing:  Sisters Ishihara, Shimoji, Fujisawa, Baird, Stott, Silva, Barney and Matsuhashi

"Who is Mormon? Come here!"

Testimony of Diana Kyan, Matsumoto Branch, submitted by Elder and Sister Matsuhashi

About forty years ago, I was attending a Catholic high school in a rural area of the Philippines.  I was 14 when my sister introduced me to the Gospel, and the missionaries taught me the discussions.  They answered many questions I had had since I was a small child, and I decided to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  From then on, I would visit the homes of less-active members and young investigators with the missionaries.

I knew that my classmates saw me with missionaries, but because I was determined that I would “never change my faith, no matter what,” I did not worry.

Sister Diana

One day, at a morning assembly, the principal, who was a nun, demanded to the whole school, “Who among you is Mormon?”  My classmate whispered to me, “It’s you!  You need to go!”  because she knew I was a Latter-day Saint.  I was very embarrassed.  “Who is Mormon?  Come here!  Tell us if you are doing something good!”  The principal said harshly to the 500 students.

I wondered, “Why is she doing this?”  I felt angry inside, but I had been taught to show respect to those senior to me, so I pushed it away.  In my heart, I exclaimed, “You can say anything, but I’m not going to change my mind!”  I’m sure the principal would have been very surprised I had such strong determination in such a circumstance.

Since that day, word spread to the whole school that I was a Latter-day Saint.  My peers started calling me names.  It was a difficult time for me, but my best friend never called me names.  After a while, my friend asked me if I was still a Mormon.  I said without hesitation, “Yes, and I will be for the rest of my life!”

During that difficult time, I received much encouragement from the Young Women’s Theme, to “stand as a witness of God at all times and in all thinks, and in all places.”  This phrase always came to my mind and sustained me, and I continuously felt God’s hand helping me.

I was only able to go to school three days a week, due to family circumstances, but my grades were at the top of the class.  One day, the principal came to me and said, “Would you like to lead the choir at the graduation ceremony?”  I was flattered that she had extended this offer despite that she knew I was a Mormon.  I decided to accept her offer.  Since then, she never said anything bad about the Church, and we became very close.

Now, anyone of any faith can attend the school.  I have the determination to fear nothing.  I know that God knows how we can grow more and guides us to achieve it.

Diana Shimai with Sister and Elder Matsuhashi,
wonderful missionaries in Matsumoto.